A slight breeze rolled through the air as the auburn haired girl stepped out of her car and onto the pavement of the school parking lot. It was mid-fall, and school had started only a month ago. It seemed like time was ticking so slowly. Eva, dressed in tan colored jeans; ankle boots and a teal top, strolled through the parking area and into the already crowded high school.
Already, she knew it would be a long day. A friend of hers (well, more like a friend of her boyfriend's) sauntered up to her and offered her a flirty, charming smile. Evangel just rolled her eyes at him and continued on her way to her locker.
Jace, as usual, was already at school due to his 6 A.M. football practices that happened three days a week. Freshman year, he would've said that they were they equivalent to hell but now that he was not only the captain of the team but their starting quarterback, his opinion had changed. He was standing at his locker with a group of closest friends from the team. He checked his watched and glanced down the hallway, wondering when Eva would be showing up. Sometimes he thought it was funny that they were dating because they were basically exact opposites but he loved her nonetheless.
Atticus had just managed to drag himself out of bed. Looking over at the clock, he was almost positive he wouldn't make it before the bell so he decided to take his sweet time getting ready. He pushed himself up from the bed and headed to the bathroom that was connected to his room. He pulled open the medicine cabinet and retrieved three Advil from the massive bottle that was nearing on empty because of his continuous use. He swallowed them with ease then started up the shower. He ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes. Man, had he had a rough night. It was a Monday and his weekends always consisted of a party or five and this weekend was no exception; although he did feel slightly more hungover than usual.
There was a general air of annoyance floating around the school. It was very detectable. As Eva walked to her locker, she noticed Jace and a few of his friends by his locker. She quickly turned toward them and hurried down the hall. She was shorter, so navigating the hallways without being trampled was a constant struggle.
"Jace!" Evangel called out, her voice soft and delicate. She put on an innocent, sweet smile as she approached him.
One of Jace's friends cat-called a girl who walked back and Jace laughed, watching as the girl whirled around and gave them all a dirty look. If anything, he would take it as a compliment if a group of football players noticed you. He turned, hearing someone call his name, and smiled when he saw that it was Evangel walking up to the group. She looked lovely, as always.
"There's my babe," He announced with a wink as he moved past the guys. Standing outside the circle, he wrapped his arms around Eva and leaned down to kiss her hello.
~
The shower quickly filled the room with steam and Atticus stripped from last night's party clothes. His shower took but maybe ten minutes before he was out and brushing his teeth. He moved onto getting dressed which was really just a game of hide and seek where he kicked around the piles of clothes in his room and guess what was clean enough to put on.
After he got ready, he gathered up his barely-filled backpack, phone, keys, wallet, and his packet of cigarettes and was on his way out of his house. He drove an old Mach 1 Mustang and although it needed some work, he still loved it.
Evangel laughed gently as Jace bent down to kiss her. She leaned up, for he was a great deal taller than her. After sharing a brief, goodmorning kiss, Eva stepped back and smiled up at the jock.
"How are you this fine morning?" The quiet girl inquired. There was still a good fifteen minutes before the first bell rang, so Eva wasn't in any hurry to get back to her locker.
Every time she was with him, Eva got a mix of reactions from others. Some were jealous, while others were disgusted by it. But I guess that was just high school, you can't make every one happy.
"I'm pretty good. How are you?" Jace asked her with a grin.
His friends always gave him shit about being with Evangel. Not because she wasn't a great girl but because they were so different. They all figured he'd end up with some floozy cheerleader, or really any other girl that threw themselves at him, so when he ended up asking her out, they were really confused. They'd met in math class last year and after failing two tests in a row, he asked if she would help him. She'd never said a word to him but the whole class knew she had a 100%.
"So, there's a bonfire tonight at Pleasant," He informed her,"And all the guys are going so you should come too."
"Glad to hear it! I'm a bit tired and all, but I'll pull through," Eva replied, managing another sweet smile despite her exhausted state. She was very aware of the change in atmosphere when she arrived around Jace's friends. She knew they liked her, she just didn't really fit in with the stereotypical sporty crowd.
She shot Jace a sidelong glance as he mentioned a bonfire. "I probably can't stay too late, I'm lacking sleep and I have this test I have to stu-" Eva's statement was cut short by the inquisitive glances her boyfriend's group was shooting her. "-Yeah, I'll go. You're driving me," She playfully poked his muscular chest and checked her phone for the time. First period started in five.
"Why so tired? Crazy night?" Jace teased her playfully, knowing that Evangel would never go out or anything.. At least not without him. He'd had to basically beg and plead to get her to tag along and even then she didn't seem to happy to be there.
He raised an eyebrow, listening to her start to say that she could stay late but she stopped and agreed to going after whatever happened behind him. He didn't question it. He wanted her to go. "Oh no. What ever will I do?" He asked her jokingly as he grabbed her by the waist and tickled her for a few sort seconds before leaning down and kissing her again.
"I'll pick you up at like, seven?" He guessed, thinking that was a pretty good ballpark time.
Eva laughed and shook her head at his playful teasing. It was true though, she wasn't a very social person unless she had to be; and Jace definitely brought her out of her she'll more often than she would hope, but it was good for her.
She returned his kiss and giggled as he tickled her. The girl was very ticklish and he knew it, always doing that sort of thing when he was in a good mood.
"Sounds good. Now, I gotta get to class before the teacher thinks I'm missing or something. Good ol' English." Evangel quickly gave Jace a kiss on the cheek and began walking toward her locker to grab her books, very aware that someone was watching her walk away, then to class for an hour.
Jace chuckled softly and pouted when Eva told him that she had to go to class.
"Lame," He teased her jokingly. He grinned when she kissed his cheek and even smacked her butt playfully as she walked away. He shook his head and turned back to his group with a smile. They still had a few more minutes so they all figured it wouldn't hurt to sit around and talk. All Jace's teachers were lenient anyways.
~
Atticus had just managed to stroll into school. He was actually pretty damn proud of himself of getting here before the final bell rang. In doing so, however, he hadn't gotten the chance to have his usual morning smoke which mean probably by second period he'd be even more antsy than usual.
As he walked to his locker, he caught sight of Eva and for a slight second his heart skipped a beat but that was quickly replaced by a drop, seeing her with Jace. God, did he hate that kid. He hated him for his personality but even more because he was with Evangel who deserved someone so much better. Watching them kiss and laugh made him want to gag.
The two of them use to hang out all the time.. And then around the same time last year she started tutoring the kid and now she was playing tongue hockey with him in the hallways. It sucked too. She use to be the only thing in his shitty world that made it alright but now he couldn't even talk to her at school because Jace was always lurking around, watching her.
He shook his head and headed down the hallway. He considered going to his locker but quickly went against that, knowing that he wouldn't actually use the books in there. It was just more to carry.
Evangel turned slightly before heading into class and saw a familiar face; Atticus. She hadn't spoken to him in a while, and after noting his somewhat disgusted expression she decided to make sure and say hello at least today. That is, if she could evade Jace for a few minutes.
During first period, Eva read and studied a bit for her chemistry test the next day since she knew she'd be up all night at that damn bonfire. And of course she usually ended up going to Jace's for a while afterward.
---
The first few periods flew by quickly, and Evangel decided she would go see Atticus really quick before lunch began. Nervously, she skirted through the hallways looking for the kid. He was hard to catch sometimes, and she knew she had to hurry or it might end badly.
Atticus slept through all of first period, American History, and only half of math. The only half he even took some notes, mostly because his teacher began threatening to call his parents. Most kids wouldn't care but Atticus and his parents didn't have the best relationship, so he avoided that all together.
Before lunch, he decided he would head outside to try and smoke. He knew it was risky but he was starting to feel anxious, as expected. He headed out of his English class and strolled through the halls in the opposite direction of everyone else. He figured that if he went where everyone else wasn't then there'd be less Admin around to catch him. It wouldn't take him that long anyways.
Eva caught site of the boy as he seemed to be slipping from the building. Probably to smoke. It didn't really bother her, besides that it was bad for his health but she'd never say that to him.
She jogged quickly over to him just as he began to exit, and she slipped outside with him. "Atticus! Hi! Hello," Evangel exclaimed cheerfully, a little out of breath. She practically felt the time she had left ticking away.
Atticus pushed open one of the double doors that led out to the side of building that you would take if you were going to the baseball fields or something.
He turned, hearing Eva's voice behind him. He raised his eyebrows and looked down as he pulled his pack of cigarettes and lighter from pocket.
"Wow. Your boyfriend finally let you off your leash?" He remarked bitterly before placing a cigarette between his lips. He covered it up as he lit it, then leaned back on the wall and looked in her direction. It was a rude comment to make but they both knew that Jace had her completely under control. The fact that she put up with that was beyond him but whatever. It wasn't his place to talk.. Usually.
He pulled the cigarette from his mouth and breathed out the smoke out away from her. "It's been almost three weeks, Eva," He informed her lowly, trying to not make it sound like it upset him but more as if it was a fact.
Evangel sighed at his comment. Yes, it was true but it wasn't like she could stick up for herself anyways. Jace wasn't a bad guy, really. He was just... Protective, she decided.
She watched as he blew the smoke away from her, and for some reason the gesture made her smile a little. They were close before the football star came into the picture. It wasn't like she wanted Atticus out of her life, things just- got in the way.
"I know it has, and I'm very sorry. I try my best, I really do. It's just that he always has plans made for me constantly and I have to be here and there and everywhere at once. It's exhausting, but it's what it is," She stared at the ground, a hand running through her hair. It was a nervous habit of hers that she had developed over the years. She tried smiling at Atticus, reminding him that she definitely still cared.
"Look, just text me or something? I really have to go. It would be bad for both of us if he or any of his buddies caught us out here. There's a... A bonfire at Pleasant tonight. If you're feeling crazy, why don't you come? If not, maybe I can free up a day this weekend," Eva offered hopefully. She wasn't entirely sure if inviting him to the bonfire was the best of ideas, but maybe they could hangout over the weekend, just like old times.
"I never pinned you as the type of girl to follow someone around like you're following him, Eva," He remarked,"You act like you can't do anything, either.." If she really wanted, she could stand up to him and tell him that she didn't want to go out with him and all of his friends but part of him was almost positive that she liked it. She was just pretending that she didn't to seem like she was the same girl before he came along.
"I hope he catches us so I can beat his ass," He said, his voice full of disgust right before taking another puff from the cigarette. He simply nodded at her invitation to the bonfire. "Could you? Wow, that would be just swell, Evangel. That would be so great of you. I'd love to get twenty minutes alone with my best friend. What a concept!"
~
Jace looked down at his phone, checking to see if maybe Evangel had texted him or something because she wasn't at their usual meeting place which definitely wasn't like her. As a friend of his walked by, he asked if he'd seen her. He simply pointed down the hallway and shrugged, so Jace started on his way in that direction.
"Atticus don't. Can we talk about this later? I don't want anyone's ass kicked, alright? I'll make sure we go do something this weekend. Promise. You know I love you, I gotta go," and with that, Eva smiled faintly and slipped back inside the doorway.
She knew he was right, she just wasn't in the mood to be lectured right now. Eva felt terrible for leaving so suddenly, but she didn't know what else to do. She would definitely see him over the weekend. Part of her was beginning to wonder if maybe she should start listening to Atticus, her best friend, more often.
She just never had been "cool" before. She never belonged anywhere. Her whole high school existence before Jace was just being some floater that everyone dubbed that smart girl. Truth be told, she kinda liked all the attention, even if it wasn't for the right reasons.
As she entered the hallway, the first thing she saw was Jace. She called out to him, "Hey hun, I had to run out to my car to put a box of recycling in there for my Science teacher." She lied with a somewhat forced smile.
Atticus watched Evangel promise that they'd see each other and then leave without another world. He laughed to himself and leaned his head back against the brick wall. Typical. He knew not to depend on her to actually follow through with it but he guess the fact that she tried to come in find him was something. It was more effort than she'd given in like a month. He considered going back inside to eat but the idea of having to possibly see Eva and Jace eating face was enough to make him choose to go walk to the courtyard instead.
~
Jace grinned a little bit, watching as Evangel came into view from a door that had been leading outside. "Oh, alright," He said with a smile, meeting her in the middle of the hallway. He kissed her as she approached him and then took her hand and started to walk back towards the cafeteria.
"So there's going to be drinking tonight at the bonfire and I know you're not always into that so.. Maybe you should drive yourself just in case?" He suggested to her. He wanted to take her but he didn't want her sitting there all miserable while he drank with his friends.
Eva gently kissed him back and leaned against him as they walked. She was mentally exhausted at this point.
Drinking? "Oh, uh... Yeah, I can drive myself, Ill do that," she responded quietly, sort of spacing out as they entered the cafeteria. It was true that she wasn't into any of that sort of thing. And quite honestly, she didn't like what Jace became when he drank but she'd go along with it. Maybe she could lighten up a bit and try getting out of her comfort zone.
The pair went to their usual table. All of the fellow sports junkies and their preppy little cheerleaders sat there and welcomed them as they sat. Evangel, feeling out of place, just looked down at her phone and text her mom to let her know the plan for the night.
The rest of the day went by just as slowly as the first half except now Atticus got to entertain the idea of hanging out with Evangel for the first time in about a month. He knew that he came off harsh earlier in the day but he was pretty sure that she would understand why. He never said anything to purposely hurt her, only to try and protect her. Sometimes he was just a little bit too rough with his words. She put up with him well.
He went to the park after school where he sat around with some friends, smoking and talking about whatever the hell a bunch of stoners talked about. He resisted smoking the pot and opted for his cigarettes just in case he did decide to go to the bonfire later on. He knew he'd get shit from Eva he had smoked.
As the hours ticked on, he ended up back at home in his room, looking up at the ceiling, debating on whether or not to go. He knew that Jace would be there and for a split second he considered trying to get along with him but he laughed off that idea just as fast as it came.
~
Jace held his phone up to his ear between his ear and his shoulder as she gathered up his belongings and headed out to his car. Well, his brand spanking new Audi of a car. His family was well off and it was easily reflected in just about everything he owned.
"Hey, love," He greeted Eva on the other end,"I'm leaving right now to head down to the lake. You're still coming right?" He hoped that she hadn't changed her mind because he would really like to spend some time with her.
Eva stood in her kitchen, placing some things in a bag that she would be taking out with her to the bonfire. She told her parents that she was spending the night with a friend of hers afterward, just in case she stayed later than expected. But, she failed to tell her friend this. Oh well. She'd find someone's house to crash at.
Her phone rang, and she reached to pick it up. It was Jace. "Yeah, I'm actually leaving in a couple minutes. I told my parents that I'm going to Ashley's just in case I stay later, but I'll probably have to find someone else's house to stay at cause... Yeah I didn't exactly tell Ashley my plan," Evangel said with a slight laugh. Both her parents were at work still, so she decided just to pack up and get going. She grabbed her purse and bag and went out to her white little Volkswagen Bug.
After throwing her things in the back seat, Eva slid into the front and turned the key in the ignition, her other hand holding her phone up to her ear.
Jace grinned as he got into his car and laughed a little bit. He was surprised he was actually doing something that wasn't completely planned out and that her parents wouldn't agree to.
"Well, if you can't find anywhere to crash we're all just staying there and camping, basically," He told her as he started it up,"I think it's only like a twenty minute drive so I'll see you seen, sweetheart." He was pretty excited for the night. He loved the outdoors and getting to party so it was just all the good things rolled up into one.
~
Atticus sighed to himself and got up from his bed, deciding just to go. He didn't know why he was even thinking about it. Eva had invited him after all so it wasn't like he was just showing up to crash the party. He walked into his bathroom and brushed his teeth, then started to comb through his hair so that he could look a bit more put together than he had at school. He then headed out to his bedroom where he changed into a pair of nice jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black button down and the rolled up to his elbows so that he looked some-what nice but not like he tried too hard. He then started to wander around his room, looking for things that he might want to bring in case he ended up not coming back home.
"Bye bye babe," Evangel finished before ending the call. She adjusted her mirrors and pulled out of her driveway.
On the way, her mind raced. This night was either going to end terribly or amazingly, and she wasn't even sure which out one she was hoping for. With a drunk Jace, a possible Atticus showing up, and her... It could get very interesting.
----
Before she knew it, she was pulling into the lake and into the beach where other cars were parked and people were beginning to gather. Eva decided to leave her bags in her car; besides, she had her bikini on under her clothes anyways. After locking up, she walked out to find Jace.
The slim girl had changed into cut off shorts and a cropped racer back tank top. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a half ponytail half braid thing that she knew Jace loved. Before long, she spotted her boyfriend and made her way over to him.
The drive to the lake really wasn't that bad and on a Monday night, it was really super fast getting there. Jace knew they'd all have to wake up super really to get to practice but he didn't mind. They were only going to do stupid stuff like this when they were young, so why the hell not?
Once he arrived, he helped a few of the guys get a big bonfire going in the middle of all the dirt they were on. The lake, obviously had a lake, but it also had surrounding woods around it that people used for camping. They were using it for their camping festivities. It didn't take all that long to get a flame going, so they all sat back, cracked open a beer, and watch the flames build. He looked over when he saw someone walking up and smiled, seeing that it was his lovely girlfriend.
"Hey babe," He said, getting up from the folding chair to go greet her.